>>> Think about it; the Catholic Church was emerging from the post Vatican II age, the post VietNam war age and a time of great change and renewal. Paul VI had been the Holy Father for 15 years and became known to a larger part of the world thanks to travel and technology. And then he was gone. But soon we would have a new Holy Father, the first Pope to take a double name; John Paul I. The world in general and the Catholic faithful were just getting to know him. He seemed happy, personable, somewhat shy but a hint of being media savvy. And just 33 days after his election he too was gone. Today is the 37th anniversary of John Paul I's death. I've included this short bio for more info:
John Paul I Biography
Religious Figure
Name at birth: Albino Luciani
Albino Luciani was elected to replace Paul VI as head of the worldwide Catholic Church in 1978 -- only to die himself 33 days after his election. Born in rural Italy, Luciani was ordained as a priest in 1935. After three decades of service he became Patriarch of Venice in 1969 and then was made cardinal in 1973. Luciani was elected as the supreme pontiff on 26 August 1978. He combined the names of his two immediate predecessors, Paul VI and John XXIII, to become Pope John Paul. Cheerful and low-key, he was soon dubbed the Smiling Pope and the Laughing Pope by admirers. His time as leader was short: on the night of 28 September he died of a heart attack, apparently while reading in bed. He was succeeded by Karol Wojtyla, John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope in more than four centuries.
Pope John Paul I; pray for us!
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